“Yeah?” I called out over my shoulder.
“When Kellie’s ready, I’d really like the chance to apologize and explain,” Mom told me, and I nodded stiffly. Before Mom could talk to her, I had to convince Kellie to talk to me, and I had no idea where to start.
Ten minutes later, I was standing on the porch of my new home coughing my lungs up. I had no idea when the last time it’d had a window open or, God forbid, had a vacuum run through there, but the place was disgusting. It was dusty and the air tasted stale. After turning on the power and throwing open the windows, I was standing there wishing I had a cold beer.
Across the yard, I could hear Nash and Sawyer arguing over who would go and deal with Gladiator. It was comical. That bull was a pain in the ass, but he just needed to know who was boss, and unfortunately for those two, it wasn’t either of them. But you know what, they’d figure it out. I had more important things to do. I had to go find Kellie and explain and hope she didn’t knee me in the balls.
Digging my keys from my pocket, I stepped off the porch and headed toward my truck, mentally making a list of all the things I needed to do and at the top of that list was shopping.
I pulled into Kellie’s driveway, parked behind her, and I couldn’t remember a thing about the drive over. Sitting behind the wheel, I killed the ignition but didn’t move. I knew I was hesitating, and I knew why. I wanted and needed this to work.
I heard the screen door screech and looked up to find Marianne standing there looking pissed. And if she was pissed, I could only imagine the attitude I would get from her daughter.
But I was here, and I wasn’t running. Besides, it wasn’t like I had a choice. My heart, my life, and my future were inside.
Sucking in a deep breath, I pushed open the door and jumped out. It was now or never, and I didn’t want to waste time. Cassie was growing up way too fast, and I’d already missed so much. I refused to miss anything else.
“Jake,” Marianne called out as I made my way down the path. “What are you doing here?” defeat and disappointment in her voice.
“I’m here to explain.”
The door was thrown open harder than necessary, causing it to bounce off the wall. “Go home, Jake,” Kellie huffed, folding her arms across her chest, propping up her tits, but that wasn’t what I needed to be focusing on right now.
“Kellie…”
“No, Jake. I don’t want to hear it. If you had something you wanted to talk to me about, I thought you would’ve come to me. Not get your fancy pants lawyers involved.”
“I would.”
“The Jake I used to know would’ve. This version… I don’t know.”
“Marshmallow…”
I was trying not to sound whiny and needy, but I wasn’t above dropping to my knees and begging.
“I’m not blaming you, I’m not. Things have changed. I’ve changed. I’m not the same girl you left behind. I’m stronger than I was. I had to be. I became a mom. And whether you believe it or not, Jake, I’m a good mom. A great mom…” Kellie was gathering momentum as her arms started flapping about.
“You’re an amazing mom. I know that.”
I should’ve known what was coming.
I should’ve been expecting it.
Preparing for it.
Defending myself against it.
“Then fuck off, Jake, and stop trying to take my daughter.”
ChapterSeventeen
Kellie
It took me a week to calm down.
A week of staring out the window waiting for the man in a fancy suit to deliver mail that would change my life.
A week of standing by the door, chewing my nails, and waiting for the knock that I knew was coming. But it never did.
